Don't Tell Noli, But...

So cute. So very, very cute!

I'll have a hard time putting these away for Christmas, but I'm going to, since they will be for Noli. (But I just may play with them first!!!)

These little cars are perfect for Noli -- we're trying to raise her without a lot of commercial toys and with as much "pretend on your own" as possible. It's so fun to listen to her sweet conversations between her little people -- and I know they will enjoy riding around on these cute wooden cars!


I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from Finns & Flowers on Etsy (hosted by the Natural Kids Team)Please be sure to check out their shop! They have lots of really sweet kid toys, all natually made in the Waldorf tradition.

According to their profile:
"We try to accomplish this by using wonderfully dyed wool and different species of wood. We don't paint or stain the wood, but rather let the natural variations in color and grain patterns speak for themselves. We then hand rub each wooden toy with either a mixture of beeswax and jojoba oil, or environmentally and child safe linseed oil to further enhance the beauty and protect the wood."

Noli loves wands -- fairy wands, princess wands, fairy princess wands...  I love these 'cause they're needle felted.

And these balls!! So colorful and fun! Again, needle felted. I'm in awe. I haven't tried needle felting myself, but I've watched my daughter make little folks for Noli and I know all the work that is involved.

I was so pleased that I won this giveaway, I just may have to enter another!! And that tractor up there? Just might show up in Noli's stocking!!

Puppies and Shoes and Soap, Oh My!!

"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!" Somebody important said that but I have no idea who, but they were right on the money!!

I've managed to miss the last two "Wednesday Wanderings" posts so if, by chance, you were wondering about them, well, I'll be back next week!! (I promise...) (I think...)

Today I have a cute little bear and some yummy soap to talk about...

As you may know, I have a second shop called Magnolia's Attic where I sell vintage items. I had listed some baby shoes which were bought by a lovely lady who makes the most fantastic bears and puppies and bunnies that you can imagine. She was kind enough to send me a photo of the puppy who now wears these little shoes...

Meet Blondie Sue, the Cocker Spaniel! Isn't she adorable? She is now residing in Virginia. Please take a moment to visit Mill Creek Creations and see what's new -- be sure to scroll through the galleries and see all the bears and puppies!

And now for a note about the shoes:  they belonged to my son! They are a size 1 and he has now grown to a size 13, I believe. Since he's almost 30, I haven't bought him shoes in a long, long time, but he was a tiny guy when these shoes fit him!!
 
And now for the yummy soap/bath melt part: 
 

I was lucky not long ago to win one of these peppermint bath melts from Especially 4 U By E and T -- it has been thoroughly tested by Noli and she declares that it "makes the water feel soft and smell good too!"  I crushed it up and used only a little (since Noli requires only a little water) so she'll be able to use it many times.
 

 

The package also included a bar of peppermint and lemon soap (a nice surprise!) which I can say is very yummy! Smells good and leaves your skin soft. 

This giveaway was hosted by Heavenly Savings who also posts coupon info, blog hops and more -- fun stuff!

Well, that's it for today -- I'll see you Wednesday, if not before!!!

Fireworks and KFC

Fireworks 5x7 Photograph by Orange Cat Art

When my kids were young (not that they're so "old" now!) we always went to watch the Fourth of July fireworks. We usually went to different locations each year, parking as near as possible and sitting on the car. One thing that became a "tradition" (did you know that if you do a thing ONE time, I can be termed "a tradition" -- my son decided this early on and we had to really watch what we did and make absolutely POSITIVE that we'd want to do it again, and again, and...)

Photo: Bravo Six Niner Delta on Flickr

Anyway, our July 4th tradition became getting Kentucky Fried Chicken in a bucket and having a picnic while watching fireworks. Had to be KFC, had to be a bucket. I'm not sure how many July 4's we actually did this, but believe me, it was a TRADITION!

One year, my hubby promised Adam (then probably around 10 or so) that he could set off some fireworks (I was not so thrilled with the idea). So we went way out of town to where fireworks could be sold and where they had a huge field for blowing yourself up. Stephanie and I sat in the car -- we didn't like the loud sounds so close -- which was pretty boring. But I could see that, of course, Adam was being supervised and kept safe. So I let my mom-armour down a bit and watched. He had a blast! -- pun intended ;)

When I was a kid, I got to light sparklers in the back yard and wave them around. That was pretty neat for a little kid -- I remember how pretty the sparkles were and how excited I was to do something so daring (for me anyway!). Well, I didn't actually light them, you understand, but I sure waved them around and listened to them sizzle! 

Sparkle 8x10 Photograph by Ace Quilting

I'll bet you have some neat Fourth of July memories, too! Tell me some in comments -- I'd love to hear!
Have a wonderful, and safe, July 4th celebration. And let your kids wave those sparklers!